On-vehicle device

ABSTRACT

An on-vehicle device with a storage unit that includes a transfer unit that transfers data stored in the storage unit to another on-vehicle device of equal capability that is also equipped with a storage unit. In the on-vehicle device, the transfer unit is configured by a data transfer jack provided to each of the on-vehicle device and the another on-vehicle device, and a data transfer cable for connecting the transfer jacks.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of and claims thebenefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 from U.S. application Ser. No.11/505,916, filed Aug. 18, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,848,862, which isbased upon and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 fromprior Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-244867, filed in the JapanesePatent Office on Aug. 25, 2005, the entire contents of each of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to on-vehicle devices and, morespecifically, to an on-vehicle device equipped with a storage unit.

2. Description of the Related Art

Vehicles are generally equipped with an on-vehicle audio device to theportion of an installment panel or a console panel. Users can have funlistening to music by the audio device reproducing CDs (compact disks),for example, and by speakers or others incorporated in doors outputtingthe reproduced audio. Assuming that the audio device is equipped thereinwith a large-capacity memory exemplified by a hard disk or others, theusers write and store their favorite music data into the hard disk, andthe music becomes available for the users to listen when the writtenmusic data is reproduced through reproduction of the hard disk.

With a vehicle navigation device incorporated on the installment panelor the console panel, and with a display unit of the vehicle navigationdevice indicating the position of the vehicle by an arrow or others onthe map, the users can know correctly the route to the destination. Ifsuch a vehicle navigation device is equipped with a large-capacitymemory exemplified by a hard disk or others, it becomes possible toinput any data customized by the users' preferences, e.g., marks on themap, and address book.

If such a vehicle audio device or a vehicle navigation device isreplaced with a new one respectively, it means that the data written onthe hard disk of the current device will be discarded. If the data is tobe transferred to a recording medium of the new vehicle audio device orvehicle navigation device, before such data transfer, the data on thehard disk of the current device will have to be once moved to any otherrecording medium, e.g., any portable storage unit of CD-ROM (CompactDisc-Read-Only Memory), semiconductor memory, or others.

If the data is to be discarded on the hard disk of the current device,it is necessary to take the trouble to write the data again to the harddisk of the new device. If the data is to be moved to any portablerecording medium, in accordance with some capacity of the memory, theneed arises to use the recording medium repeatedly for several times formoving the data. Such a trouble caused by moving the data is considereda drawback.

Patent Document 1 (JP-A-2004-94755) describes a data transfer devicethat is configured to include: a unit for reading only controlinformation and any predetermined portion required for data access on astorage device; and a unit for transferring thus read controlinformation and predetermined portion to another storage device forwriting and copying thereto. Such a data transfer device implementshigh-speed transfer of a large amount of data while preventing headseeking or others from frequently occurring. This is achieved by readingand transferring only the control information and any predeterminedportion of the storage device for writing them into another storagedevice being a transfer destination, and by copying only the controlinformation and the predetermined portion needed for data access with noconcern for files on the storage device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem with such a data transfer device is that the data transferis limited to between computers sharing the transfer function of thesame protocol exemplified by a general-purpose communications protocolsuch as FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or NFS (Network File System)protocol, and the data transfer is not about transferring customizeddata in on-vehicle devices.

Patent Document 2 (JP-A-2003-330872)

There is thus a need for an on-vehicle device with which, whenexchanging the current on-vehicle device for a new one, data writing canbe easily performed from a storage unit of the current on-vehicle deviceto a storage unit of the new on-vehicle device.

There is another need for an on-vehicle device with which, whenexchanging a current vehicle audio device for a new one, writing ofcustomized data can be easily performed from a storage unit of thecurrent vehicle audio device to a storage unit of the new vehicle audiodevice.

There is still another need for an on-vehicle device with which, whenexchanging a current vehicle navigation device for a new one,transferring of customized data can be easily performed from a storageunit of the current vehicle navigation device to a storage unit of thenew vehicle navigation device.

There is still another need for an on-vehicle device with which, whenexchanging the current on-vehicle device for a new one, there is no moreneed to write again users' preferred data or customized data to astorage unit of the new on-vehicle device.

There is still another need for an on-vehicle device with which, whenexchanging the current on-vehicle device for a new one, there is no moreneed to make a power supply and to remove the current on-vehicle devicefrom the vehicle to transfer user-customized data stored in a storageunit of the current on-vehicle device to a storage unit of the newon-vehicle device.

These needs of the present invention will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the technical scope and embodiments ofthe present invention.

The present invention is directed to an on-vehicle device with a storageunit, including a transfer unit that transfers data stored in thestorage unit to another on-vehicle device of equal capability that isalso equipped with a storage unit. In the on-vehicle device, thetransfer unit is configured by a data transfer jack provided to each ofthe on-vehicle devices, and a data transfer cable for connecting thetransfer jacks.

In the on-vehicle device, the data transfer cable may make a powersupply for driving at least the storage unit of another on-vehicledevice, or may be of USB (Universal Serial Bus) type. The on-vehicledevice may be provided with an operation unit for data transfer, andwhen the operation unit is operated, the transfer unit may start thedata transfer. The on-vehicle device may be provided also with a displayunit, and when the transfer unit completes data transfer, the displayunit may make a display telling that the data transfer is completed. Inthe on-vehicle device, the storage unit may be a hard disk. Theon-vehicle device may be a vehicle audio device, or a vehicle navigationdevice.

A preferable embodiment of the present invention is directed to anon-vehicle device, e.g., vehicle audio device or vehicle navigationdevice, equipped with a large-capacity memory, e.g., hard disk. Theon-vehicle device is provided with a data transfer unit exemplified byUSB connection or others. With the on-vehicle device, information dataincluding music data, map data, or others can be exchanged with alarge-capacity memory, e.g., hard disk, of another on-vehicle device bythe data transfer unit, e.g., USB connection. With such an on-vehicledevice, for data acquisition from a hard disk of a current on-vehicledevice, USB connection provides a power supply for data acquisition sothat a new on-vehicle device is no more required to have any other powersupply, e.g., battery.

The on-vehicle device equipped with a large-capacity memory such as harddisk originally carries therein a lot of data, including musiccustomized to match user's tastes, marks on the map, registration data,and others. If the user decides to exchange his or her currenton-vehicle device for a new one, the user has to discard the data in thecurrent on-vehicle device or take the trouble to transfer the hugeamount of data to the new on-vehicle device, and this is considered aburden on the user. Such a burden is favorably eased with an USBconnection, for example, enabling data transfer in the hard disk. Thisthus saves the trouble of installing the data again, and the user canlisten to music as always with the exchanged new on-vehicle device. Ifpower supply is made through the USB connection for data transfer, thereis no more need to newly provide a battery or others for power supply.With the current on-vehicle device remain equipped in the vehicle, datatransfer can be thus performed to a new on-vehicle device which receivespower supply through USB connection.

The present invention is mainly directed to an on-vehicle device with astorage unit, including a transfer unit that transfers data stored inthe storage unit to another on-vehicle device of equal capability thatis also equipped with a storage unit. In the on-vehicle device, thetransfer unit is configured by a data transfer jack provided to each ofthe on-vehicle devices, and a data transfer cable for connecting thetransfer jacks.

For exchange of a current on-vehicle device for a new one, theon-vehicle device configured as above enables to transfer the datastored in the storage unit of the current on-vehicle device to thestorage unit of the new on-vehicle device via the transfer unit, whichis configured by the data transfer jack and the data transfer cable. Assuch, any information written to the storage unit of the currenton-vehicle device can be transferred for writing to the storage unit ofthe new on-vehicle device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the operation of exchanging on-vehicledevices;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the front panel of an on-vehicle device;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of a vehicleaudio device;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation in the vehicle audio deviceat the time of data transfer; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of a vehiclenavigation device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is described by embodiments shown in theaccompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows the principle of data transfer in anon-vehicle device in an embodiment of the present invention, i.e., showsdata transfer when a current on-vehicle device 10 is exchanged for a newon-vehicle device 15. The on-vehicle device 10 configured by a vehicleaudio device is driven by a battery 11, and is equipped in a vehicle 12.That is, the vehicle audio device 10 is driven by the battery 11 forvehicle use. This on-vehicle device 10 is provided therein with a harddisk, and a user writes his or her favorite music to this hard disk. Thedata in such a hard disk of the current on-vehicle device 10 can becomeavailable, by an USB cable 16, for the new on-vehicle device 15 equippedalso with a hard disk. At the time of such data acquisition, the USBcable 16 makes a power supply from the current on-vehicle device 10 tothe new on-vehicle device 15 so that there is no more need to connectthe battery 11 or any other power supply to the new on-vehicle device15.

If the current on-vehicle device 10 of FIG. 1 is exchanged for the newon-vehicle device 15, it generally means that the data on the hard diskof the current on-vehicle device 10 will be discarded, or the data willbe transferred via any portable recording medium, e.g., CD-ROM orsemiconductor memory. If the data is discarded, the need arises to enteragain another data or record again any music. If with a recordingmedium, the data transfer has to be made repeatedly for several timesfor moving the data, and this is a burden on the user.

If a data transfer unit taken charge of data transfer or others isactivated through USB connection, power supply can be made through theUSB connection. If with such power supply, with the current on-vehicledevice 10 remain equipped in the vehicle, and with the currenton-vehicle device 10 driven by the battery 11 by starting the engine ofthe vehicle, the data can be transferred to the hard disk of the newon-vehicle device 15. If an on-vehicle monitor is equipped, the user mayknow the progress of data transfer by a signal coming from the currenton-vehicle device 10 to the monitor to indicate whether the datatransfer is started or ended. After the data transfer is completed, thecurrent on-vehicle device 10 is removed, and the new on-vehicle 15connected with the battery 11 is equipped to the vehicle. This favorablysaves the user's trouble, i.e., entering again the data after theprevious data is discarded, or transferring the data using a recordingmedium. The user thus can listen to music in the vehicle as always withthe exchanged new on-vehicle device. Note here that the new on-vehicledevice often has the format or protocol including the functions of thecurrent on-vehicle device. Therefore, even if the format or protocol isupdated to some degree, the data transfer is not interrupted.

FIG. 2 shows a front panel 18 of the current on-vehicle device 10configured by a vehicle audio device. This front panel 18 includes adisplay panel 19, and the lower portion of the display panel 19 isprovided with a plurality of operation switches 20. On the left side ofthe display panel 19 of the front panel 18, a data transfer button 22 isattached, and on the right side thereof, an USB jack 23 is attached.

FIG. 3 shows the system configuration of such a vehicle audio device 10,and this vehicle audio device is provided with a CPU (Central ProcessingUnit) 26 for control application. The CPU 26 is connected with both adisk player 27 that outputs audio source data, and a D/A(Digital/Analog) converter 28. On the output end of the D/A converter28, an amplifier 30 is connected via an electronic volume 29, and anoutput of the amplifier 30 is directed to a speaker 31. The vehicleaudio device 10 is equipped with a hard disk 32 for writing thereintoany user-preferred music or others.

The front panel 18 of the vehicle audio device 26 is attached with thedisplay panel 19 of FIG. 2, and is connected to the CPU 26. The datatransfer button 22 provided on the side of the display panel 19 isconnected to the CPU 26. On the left side portion of the display panel19, an USB jack 35 is connected. This USB jack 35 is connected to an USBjack 36 of the new on-vehicle device 15 via the USB cable 16. The USBjack 36 is connected to a CPU 37, and the CPU 37 is connected to a harddisk 38.

By referring to FIG. 4, described next is the data transfer operationwhen the current vehicle audio device 10 of such a configuration isremoved and is exchanged for the new vehicle audio device 15. First ofall, the USB cable 16 is used to establish a connection between the USBjack 35 of the current vehicle audio device 10 and the USB jack 36 ofthe new vehicle audio device 15. When the data transfer button 22 of thefront panel 18 is then depressed, the CPU 26 issues a command for datawriting, i.e., data in the hard disk 32 of the current vehicle audiodevice 10 is written to the hard disk 38 of the new vehicle audio device15 via the USB jacks 35 and 36 and the USB cable 16. During such datawriting, The CPU 26 makes a display telling that the data transfer isnow in progress at the lower portion of the display panel 19. The CPU 26determines whether the data transfer is completed or not, and whendetermining that the data transfer is through, the CPU 26 makes adisplay telling that the data transfer is now completed at the lowerportion of the display panel 19. With such a display, the user canacknowledge that the data transfer is done from the hard disk 32 of thecurrent vehicle audio device 10 to the hard disk 38 of the new vehicleaudio device 15, and thus the user accordingly removes the USB cable 16.

With an USB connection using the USB cable 16, the maximum current valuecan be generally kept to 500 mA so that the CPU 37 and the hard disk 38of the new vehicle audio device 15 can be both driven. This thus enablesdata transfer from the current vehicle audio device 10 to the newvehicle audio device 15 with no specific power supply to the newon-vehicle device 15.

By referring to FIG. 5, described next is another embodiment in whichthe on-vehicle devices 10 and 15 are both a vehicle navigation device.The vehicle navigation device 10 is equipped with a CPU 41, which isconnected with a positioning device 42, and a map data disk player 43.The CPU 41 exercises control over a driver 44, which makes the displaypanel 45 display thereon the position of the vehicle on the map. Forsuch display, the output of the map data disk player 43 is overlaid withthe position information of the positioning device 42. The CPU 41 isequipped with a hard disk 46 for storage of any customized marks on themap, registration data, and others.

The vehicle navigation device is equipped with a front panel 48 on whicha data transfer button 49 and an USB jack 50 are provided. The USB jack50 is connected to an USB jack 52 of the new vehicle audio device 15 byan USB cable 51. The USB jack 52 of the new vehicle navigation device 15is connected with both a CPU 53 and a hard disk 54.

Also with such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 5, after the USB cable51 establishes a connection between the USB jack 50 of the currentvehicle navigation device 10 and the USB jack 52 of the new vehiclenavigation device 15, by depressing the data transfer button 49 on thefront panel 48, any customized data can be transferred with ease fromthe hard disk 46 of the current vehicle navigation device 10 to the harddisk 54 of the new vehicle navigation device 15 via the USB cable 51 inthe procedure of the flowchart of FIG. 4. Once the data transfer iscompleted as such, the current on-vehicle device 10 is removed from thevehicle and the new vehicle navigation device 15 is equipped at the sameposition. The new vehicle navigation device 15 then makes navigationdisplays using the data, as it is, that has been written in the harddisk 46 of the current vehicle navigation device 10.

While the invention has been described in detail by the shownembodiments, the foregoing description is in all aspects illustrativeand not restrictive. It is understood that numerous other modificationsand variations can be devised without departing from the scope of theinvention. For example, the data to be transferred from the hard disk 32of the current on-vehicle device 10 to the hard disk 38 of the newon-vehicle device 15 is not restrictive to the data as described in theforegoing, and may vary in type. The invention is not restrictive to thevehicle audio device or the vehicle navigation device, and is surelyapplicable widely to various other types of on-vehicle device.

The present invention is applicable to audio devices and navigationdevices all for vehicle use.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. A device comprising: a storage device; and a transfer unit that transfers data stored in the storage device to another device and provides a power supply for the another device through a data transfer cable.
 2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising: an operation unit that, when operated, starts the data transfer by the transfer unit; and a display unit to display a visual notification that the data transfer is completed when the transfer unit completes the data transfer.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the data transfer cable is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable.
 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the storage device is a hard disk.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a audio device.
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a navigation device.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the data stored in the storage unit and transferred by the transfer unit is audio data.
 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the data stored in the storage unit and transferred by the transfer unit is map data.
 9. A device comprising: storage means for storing data; transfer means for transferring data stored in the storage means to another device by a data transfer cable; and power supply means for supplying power to the another device by the data transfer cable.
 10. The device according to claim 9, further comprising: operation means for, when operated, starting the data transfer by the transfer means; and display means for displaying a visual notification that the data transfer is completed when the transfer means completes the data transfer.
 11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the data transfer cable is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable.
 12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the storage means includes a hard disk.
 13. The device according to claim 9, wherein the data stored in the storage means and transferred by the transfer means is audio data.
 14. The device according to claim 9, wherein the data stored in the storage means and transferred by the transfer means is map data.
 15. A method comprising: transferring data stored in a storage unit of a first device to a second device by a data transfer cable; and supplying power from the first device to the another device, for the transferring of data, by the data transfer cable.
 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: starting, when an operation unit of the first device is operated, the transferring of data; and displaying a visual notification, on the first device, that the transferring of data is completed when the first device completes the transferring of data.
 17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the data transfer cable is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable.
 18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the storage unit includes a hard disk.
 19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the data stored in the storage unit and transferred in the transferring of data is audio data.
 20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the data stored in the storage unit and transferred in the transferring of data is map data.
 21. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit transfers the data, by the data transfer cable, to the another device while the data transfer cable provides the power supply for the another device.
 22. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device and the another device are not externally-supplied power.
 23. The device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply for the another device drives at least a storage device of the another device which stores the transferred data. 